Monday, October 21, 2013

Field Mobility News Weekly – Week of October 20, 2013

The Field Mobility News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news and articles related to field mobility that I run across each week. I am specifically targeting information that reflects market data and trends.

Researchers and analysts at IDTechEx find that in 2013, the total RFID market is worth $7.88 billion, up from $6.98 billion in 2012. The market is forecast to grow to $9.2 billion in 2014 and to $30.24 billion by 2024. Read original Content

The Department of Transportation in New Jersey has contracted with Motorola to install radios with GPS tracking systems in state vehicles to enable supervisors to monitor workers’ speeds, locations and the length of time spent in any one place. Read Original Content

ClickSoftware is an SAP mobility partner and the leading provider of automated workforce management and optimization solutions for every size of service business. This newsletter is sponsored in part by ClickSoftware.

UltraHaptics is a newly developed “force field” for touchscreens, using an array of 320 ultrasound speakers set behind the screen to generate beams of high-frequency sound waves. The waves are linked to the software running the displayed content and interact to create hotspots that give different sensations as people move their hands. Read Original Content

The city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama has deployed a new workforce management system that enables city employees to log hours at their offices and remotely using city-issued mobile devices. The city expects to save over $225,000 annually using the new system. Read Original Content

Apple’s iBeacon functionality has produced a lot of attention for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. Multiple vendors have begun offering BLE beacons and applications specifically to take advantage of the iBeacon functionality, including PayPal and technology start-ups Estimote and Roximity. Read Original Content

The BarCode News features an article detailing “The Ten Best Practices for using 2D Barcodes in Advertising”. Read Original Content

In an effort to increase safety on its canals, gondolas in Venice, Italy may soon be equipped with GPS to allow authorities to track the boats’ routes and speed. Read Original Content

Trimble has unveiled an integrated camera system that captures 360 degree digital panoramic images for visual documentation and measurement. The Trimble V10 Imaging Rover enables professionals in industries including survey, GIS, engineering, and oil and gas to capture rich, complete data of their surrounding environment. Read Original Content

The Je-Nong Cooperative Farm in Taiwan employs an RFID-based solution to document the receipt and processing of its fresh fruit. The fruit producer/distributor has seen a reduction in labor costs and provides a more reliable product for customers since implementing the solution. Read Original Content

The 2013 National Science Experiment, 4-H Maps & Apps, introduced young people across the United States to the importance of GIS and GPS on October 9, the 4-H National Youth Science Day. Participants used an important GIS technique called "layering" to map and design their dream recreational park. Read Original Content

Transit agencies in the Dallas, Texas area launched a new mobile ticketing app for iPhones and Android devices. GoPass enables transit riders to register a cell phone number and credit card information to purchase tickets for same-day use or pre-purchase tickets up to 60 days in advance. Read Original Content

Socket Mobile announced the upcoming availability of the Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner 7Qi, a small wireless 2D barcode scanner for Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The devices also support Android and Windows devices. Read Original Content

***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim them. I am a mobility and SMAC analyst, consultant and writer. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.